Mounting for precious stones



3. 1955 R. MELlK-MINASSIANTZ 2,726,521

MOUNTING FOR PRECIOUS STONES Filed June 12, 1951 United States PatentMOUNTING FGR PRECIOUS STONES Raphael Melik-Minassiantz, Paris, FranceApplication June 12, 1951, Serial No. 231,167 Claims priority,appiication France June 14, 1950 1 Claim. (Cl. 63-27) The object of thepresent invention is a new embodiment of a mounting for precious stoneson jewellery. It is in particular destined to enhance the appearance ofdiamonds notably in increasing their effect.

The object of the present invention is a double mounting. It comprises afirst setting in platinum, the contour of which is adapted to that ofthe diamond which is set therein, either by the agency of points of verysmall dimensions, or by overlapping on the complete periphery of thediamond at the edge of the setting. A second support having a hollowedor solid base is equipped with claws by which is held said firstsetting: the two elements of the complete mounting are maintained by thesecond support at a certain distance the one from the other. The secondsupport is solidly fixed to the jewel by soldering for example.

The present invention enhances the effect of the diamond by creating theillusion of a stone of greater volume than in reality.

The annexed drawing shows as a non limitative example a method of therealization of the present invention.

Fig. 1 represents a front view of the diamond inserted into its firstsupport.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the line AB of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a front view of the second support.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the second support.

Fig. 5 represents the ensemble of the diamond and its double support.

Fig. 6 is a cross section of the line C-D of Fig. 5.

In the example represented diamond 1 is mounted in a platinum setting 2,where it is maintained by the agency of points 3, overlapping as littleas possible the surface of said diamond. The setting 2, which forms theinner element of the mounting, is of inverted frusto-pyramidal form withits larger base directed upwardly. As seen in the drawings this innerelement directly receives and supports the diamond.

The diamond is assumed here to be of circular form, mounted in a squaresetting.

The outer element 4 of the mounting, which may be seen in Figs. 3 to 5,is of inverted frusto-conical form with its larger base directedupwardly and is formed with a series of claws 5 which extend upwardlyand define a central chamber for receiving the inner element 2. Thedistance between opposite outer edges of the lower smaller base of theinner element 2 is approximately equal to the diameter of the upperlarger base of the outer frusto- 2,726,521 Patented Dec. 13, 1955conical element 4 within the claws 5. When the inner element 2 issecured in the outer element 4, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the claws 5overlie the sides of element 2 and overlie the upper edges of thiselement for locking engagement with it. The claws 5 are equal in numberto the sides of the inner element 2 and are regularly spaced. By reasonof this structure, the corners of the inner element 2 project centrallyin the spaces between the claws beyond the periphery of the upper largerbase of the frusto-conical outer member 4.

The double mounting theretofore described has the advantage of creatingthe illusion of a diamond of greater volume than in reality, allowingthe realization of jewels of striking effect with relatively smallstones and at a low-cost.

It is understood that the forms and details of execution can be variedwithout departing from the framework of the present invention.

In particular, for the first support, the contour of the setting canenvelop exactly that of the stone. In this case the setting can beobtained by overlapping the edge of the support on to the diamond, carebeing taken to encroach the least possible onto the surface of thestone.

I claim:

In a mounting for precious stones, in combination, an inner element ofinverted frusto-pyramidal form with its larger base directed upwardly,said inner element directly receiving and supporting the precious stoneby engaging said stone from below and being provided with means forsimultaneously engaging a limited portion of the upper surface of thestone whereby the stone is retained against dislodgment in anydirection, said means engaging the stone upper surface lying on thediagonals of said larger base, and an outer element having a pluralityof claws extending upwardly therefrom and defining a central chamberreceiving said inner element, said outer element being of invertedfrusto-conical form with its larger base directed upwardly and adjacentthe lower smaller base of said inner element, the distance betweenopposite side edges of the lower smaller base of said in ner element isapproximately equal to the diameter of the upper larger base of saidouter element, said claws of said outer element overlying the sides ofsaid inner element and overlying the upper edges of the inner elementfor locking engagement therewith, said claws being equal in number tothe sides of said inner element and being regularly spaced, and thecornersof said inner element projecting centrally in the spaces betweensaid claws beyond the periphery of the upper larger base of saidfrusto-conical outer member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS253,450 Van Houten Feb. 7, 1882 717,824 Dover Jan. 6, 1903 722,824 DoverMar. 17, 1903 1,548,646 Akeson Aug. 4, 1925 2,239,302 Pritchard Apr. 22,1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 588,891 Great Britain June 5, 1947

